Border Czar Homan to Address Arizona Legislature Joint Session

Arizona Speaker of the House Steve Montenegro (R-29) has announced that Trump Administration "Border Czar" Tom Homan will address the State Legislature in a joint session on Tuesday.

The press release describes Homan's address as focusing on "Arizona's leading role in confronting the border crisis and advancing public safety—a top priority for the House Republican Majority."

Arizona is ground zero in the fight to secure our southern border and protect American communities. Tom Homan is a patriot who has dedicated his life to defending our nation's sovereignty and keeping Americans safe," said Speaker Montenegro, adding, "Now, as the Border Czar for President Trump's administration, he's leading the long-overdue federal effort to restore law and order. His firsthand experience and no-nonsense leadership are exactly what our members need as we advance our Majority Plan to promote public safety, preserve the American Dream, and protect the rights and liberties of every Arizonan."

Arizona Republicans have indeed focused on securing the Grand Canyon State's border with Mexico, efforts which have ramped up after the Trump Administration assumed office in January.

In mid-February, Speaker Montenegro spoke with Cactus Politics about how Arizona can work with the Trump Administration in such an effort, saying, "We need to make sure we are having the right communication. We are working closely with men like Tom Homan, the border czar. We are working closely with President Trump's domestic policy office. We want to make sure that we are partnering with them."

"We are always actively looking here in Arizona because we are a border state. For years, we have been very proactive in what type of legislation we can pass to make sure law enforcement can be working with federal agencies or federal entities have the right authority to work in conjunction with them and make sure we have secure borders," Speaker Montenegro added.

For instance, shortly after our interview with Montenegro, State Representative David Marshall (R-7) was joined by AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes in promoting HB2733, a bill authorizing law enforcement to intercept and destroy drones used by Mexican drug cartels to scout and drop off drug shipments.

At the end of the month, Governor Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) announced the launching of Operation Desert Guardian, a joint task force designed to crack down on the cartels in Arizona.